W. P. A. Cemetery Survey - Kemp Cemetery, Farmer Township

The Works Progress Administration was formed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in reaction to the Great Depression as a means of employing Americans and stimulating the economy.  Established in 1935, one of the projects of the W.P.A. was to conduct Historical Records Surveys, one of which included finding information on cemeteries and the graves of veterans.  The W.P.A. was disbanded in 1943, but the historical information provided on these surveys continue to be of interest and are, thankfully, preserved.

In this series, some of the general surveys of Defiance County cemeteries will be shared, transcribed as written with a few punctuation and/or spelling changes for readability.  The surveys were probably done around 1936.
 
For more up to date information on the cemeteries, check out this chart on our website:
 http://defiancecountygenealogy.org/cemeteries.html

*This cemetery is also known as Kent Cemetery.

Kemp Cemetery

1. Name of cemetery:  Kemp Graveyard, origin of name unknown.

2. Location, how reached:

This small graveyard is located on the old W. S. Tomlinson farm in section 19, Farmer township, not far from the bank of Lost Creek.  It is on a back gravel road, one mile south and two miles and a quarter west of Farmer Center, from which village it can be reached by the above directions.

3. Name and address of caretaker:

Perry Hand, Farmer Center, Ohio, and under the supervision of the township trustees of Farmer Township.

Photo from www.findagrave.com

4. Name and date of first burial recorded:

Ezra Crary, 1846, and then is about the time of the graveyard's start.

Ezra Crary at www.findagrave.com

 6. Names of important persons buried there, for what noted:

Adam Farmer, one of the founders of Farmer Center and for whom the township was named.

The Farmer family in Kemp Cemetery at www.findagrave.com

 7. Markers of unusual appearance:

All of the markers are old slabs with two of the pedestal type.  There are no modern markers in the plot.  Most of the markers are so defaced that the reading is indecernible.  Up to a few years ago, this graveyard was not taken care of, and just recently they started to fix it up and reset most of the old markers.  It was recently fenced also.

8. Unusual Epitaphs:

Nothing outstanding, all the regular verses and inscriptions, so common fifty years ago, as 'Rest in Peace,' 'Gone, but Not Forgotten,' and so forth.  Many of the older stones are so dim that the writing cannot be read.

9. Is cemetery used for new burials?

This graveyard has been used once since it was fixed up, however, from around 1900 to recently, it was abandoned. It is now being revived since it a much cheaper place to bury than the costly Farmer Center Graveyard.  It is open to those who wish to use it.

C. Cadwallader and C. Gish, Reporters

Consultant: Most of this information was gained from Harry Metz, caretaker of the Six Corners Cemetery, whose address is Route #2, Hicksville, Ohio.

Perry Hand of Farmer is the caretaker, but he is so busy with the large Farmer Center Cemetery and the famous Lost Creek Cemetery, that he has not much time for this one. 

(The Works Progress Administration was formed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in reaction to the Great Depression as a means of employing Americans and stimulating the economy.  Established in 1935, one of the projects of the W.P.A. was to conduct Historical Records Surveys, one of which included finding information on cemeteries and the graves of veterans.  The W.P.A. was disbanded in 1943, but the historical information provided on these surveys continue to be of interest and are, thankfully, preserved.)

   

W. P. A. Cemetery Survey - Presbyterian/ Upper Lost Creek Cemetery, Farmer Township

In this series, some of the general surveys of Defiance County cemeteries will be shared, transcribed as written on the original W.P.A. reports, with a few punctuation and/or spelling changes for readability.  The surveys were probably done around 1936.

For more up to date information on the cemeteries, check out this chart on our website:
 http://defiancecountygenealogy.org/cemeteries.html)

Presbyterian Graveyard

(Upper Lost Creek Cemetery)

1. Name of cemetery:

Presbyterian Cemetery (Upper Lost Creek) in Farmer Township

2. Location, how reached:

Just two miles straight west of Farmer Center on state route #249 and reached over this route.  Also nine miles northeast of Hicksville on route 2.  (Section 19) 

3. Name and address of caretaker:

Members of the Presbyterian church and those who have relatives buried there.  For information, see Perry Hand, Farmer Center, Ohio, caretaker of Township graveyards.

Presbyterian - Upper Lost Creek Cemetery on www.findagrave.com

4. General description, size, appearance, denomination, fencing, etc.:

This graveyard is small, not quite an acre.  It sets directly back of the church, is not very well kept up and the shrubbery is shaggy.  It is partly fenced with ordinary wire fencing in the back; in the front, it is open.  It is surrounded by four maple trees, but none on the lot itself.  It is Presbyterian in denomination.  There are no larger markers or recent ones.

5. Name and date of first burial recorded:

William Battershell, a child in 1853, is the first grave. The Battershells used this as a private burying plot until 1865, when it was officially opened as a graveyard.

6. Names of important persons buried there, for what noted:

John Battershell, 1815 - 1895, is the most important, being an early pioneer settler and founder of the well to do Battershell family still residing in this district and in and around Hicksville, Ohio.

John Battershell at www.findagrave.com

 Thomas Cheyney, 1798 - 1865, was the earliest born man in the cemetery; nothing is known of him, however.

7. Markers of unusual appearance:

The unusualness about the markers in this graveyard is that they are all small and about the same size.  There are no large, heavy stones, at all, just white slabs and headstones.

8. Unusual epitaphs:

Again, no odd or different readings on the stones in this graveyard.  Just the usual verses.

9. Is cemetery used for new burials?

The graveyard still is used, however, not very often.  Twice in the last five years, we are told.

C. Cadwallader and C. Gish, Reporters
Consultant:  Harry Metz, R.R. #2, Hicksville, Ohio     

  
    

(The Works Progress Administration was formed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in reaction to the Great Depression as a means of employing Americans and stimulating the economy.  Established in 1935, one of the projects of the W.P.A. was to conduct Historical Records Surveys, one of which included finding information on cemeteries and the graves of veterans.  The W.P.A. was disbanded in 1943, but the historical information provided on these surveys continue to be of interest and are, thankfully, preserved.)